Foster care: Future directions in China and the United States

Foster care in the PR of China and the US is very different and yet similar. Both countries share the goal to provide a good home for the youngest members of society when their parents are not able to do so. China adopted its first national policy on foster care only within the last decade while the US has a much longer history of federal policies to guide foster care practice. Difference in policies and models of service can be related to the differing roles and philosophies of family and government, as well as differences in the reasons children need foster care services in each country. The need for culturally appropriate foster care models in China is increasing as the ability of parents to care for their children is sometimes compromised during this time of rapid economic and social change. A comparison of foster care history, philosophy and services in China and the US will be discussed. Implications for applying US models of foster care in China will be explored and the need for cross-cultural learning about foster care will be discussed.